Kaila's Reviews > Wounded
Wounded
by
3/5 stars
This was such a unique and interesting love story. As soon as I read the blurb I knew that I had to read it, because I was certain that this would be a touching and heartfelt story (spoiler, it was). It was emotional, heartbreaking and difficult to read sometimes. All of the three stars are aimed towards the concept, premise and emotional anguish of this book, which is what really made it enjoyable to read. I do think that a lot of things were over-simplified for the point of the story, which sometimes got in the way of my enjoyment. I also wish that this book was longer, as I was really enjoying the story and think it wouldn't have been all the more touching if it had been fleshed out more. Despite its flaws, I still think this is a beautiful book about a love the defies culture and language.
Rania doesn't remember a time without war and hunger, if that time even existed. Form the time she was very young, she had to fight to survive and keep her family alive. But when Rania finds herself completely alone, without even her brother to help her, she must learn how to provide for herself. The only was open to her was prostitution, and that's how she became a favourite prostitute in her town in Iraq. Hunter is an American soldier, deployed in Iraq. After a bomb blast that resulted in him getting injured and his comrades being left behind, the only reason why Hunter survived was a mysterious Iraqi women who saved him. Rania has been looking after Hunter, despite the trouble she should be on it people found that she was harbouring an American solider. But their relationship takes a turn away from being platonic, and Hunter can't stand to see Rania continuing her work as a woman on the streets.
This was a beautiful romantic story with a heartfelt love that transcended war, culture and language. There was an undeniable connection between Rania and Hunter that began to develop as soon as they met. I was immediately drawn into their story and was fully attached within chapters. I absolutely loved seeing their story unfold as their relationship grew stronger. Despite Rania and Hunter having different languages and culture, they were able to understand each other on a whole different level. The author was fantastic and making me yearn for these characters and wanting nothing more than them to be together and have a happy ending. I was so invested in their story, despite this book being quite short. It's safe to say that the shortness of the book did nothing to lessen my love for these characters.
Despite loving the relationship and the concept behind the book, I feel like the execution is where I found a lot of faults. As the book was short, it felt very rushed and simplistic. The speed at which the characters learnt each other's language was borderline ridiculous. The relationship itself was also very fast, so this did impact on my enjoyment of the book. I absolutely adored the idea and the characters, but it was undeniably fast and therefore unbelievable. I also think everything was just too simplistic for such a complex concept. The idea of crossing cultures and the relationship between the warring nations was not really commented on enough and was tied together too nicely, just to accommodate for the relationship. I also think the fact that Rania was a prostitute wasn't fleshed out either. I doubt whether she would be so open to having sex with Hunter soon after she was essentially used and raped by other men. There were quite a few more small details like this that circulated my mind while I was reading and stopped me from loving the book as much as I could have.
Overall, I did really love the romance of the book and the overall concept behind it. It was just small details that really bothered me and stopped me from enjoying the book as much as I would have liked to. I still really enjoyed the book and would love to read more from this author in the future.
by
3/5 stars
"I will always love you. You saved me, Rania."
"No, you saved me."
"We saved each other, then."
This was such a unique and interesting love story. As soon as I read the blurb I knew that I had to read it, because I was certain that this would be a touching and heartfelt story (spoiler, it was). It was emotional, heartbreaking and difficult to read sometimes. All of the three stars are aimed towards the concept, premise and emotional anguish of this book, which is what really made it enjoyable to read. I do think that a lot of things were over-simplified for the point of the story, which sometimes got in the way of my enjoyment. I also wish that this book was longer, as I was really enjoying the story and think it wouldn't have been all the more touching if it had been fleshed out more. Despite its flaws, I still think this is a beautiful book about a love the defies culture and language.
Rania doesn't remember a time without war and hunger, if that time even existed. Form the time she was very young, she had to fight to survive and keep her family alive. But when Rania finds herself completely alone, without even her brother to help her, she must learn how to provide for herself. The only was open to her was prostitution, and that's how she became a favourite prostitute in her town in Iraq. Hunter is an American soldier, deployed in Iraq. After a bomb blast that resulted in him getting injured and his comrades being left behind, the only reason why Hunter survived was a mysterious Iraqi women who saved him. Rania has been looking after Hunter, despite the trouble she should be on it people found that she was harbouring an American solider. But their relationship takes a turn away from being platonic, and Hunter can't stand to see Rania continuing her work as a woman on the streets.
“Some things are free, Rania. My love for you is free. All you have to do is take it. Accept it.”
This was a beautiful romantic story with a heartfelt love that transcended war, culture and language. There was an undeniable connection between Rania and Hunter that began to develop as soon as they met. I was immediately drawn into their story and was fully attached within chapters. I absolutely loved seeing their story unfold as their relationship grew stronger. Despite Rania and Hunter having different languages and culture, they were able to understand each other on a whole different level. The author was fantastic and making me yearn for these characters and wanting nothing more than them to be together and have a happy ending. I was so invested in their story, despite this book being quite short. It's safe to say that the shortness of the book did nothing to lessen my love for these characters.
Despite loving the relationship and the concept behind the book, I feel like the execution is where I found a lot of faults. As the book was short, it felt very rushed and simplistic. The speed at which the characters learnt each other's language was borderline ridiculous. The relationship itself was also very fast, so this did impact on my enjoyment of the book. I absolutely adored the idea and the characters, but it was undeniably fast and therefore unbelievable. I also think everything was just too simplistic for such a complex concept. The idea of crossing cultures and the relationship between the warring nations was not really commented on enough and was tied together too nicely, just to accommodate for the relationship. I also think the fact that Rania was a prostitute wasn't fleshed out either. I doubt whether she would be so open to having sex with Hunter soon after she was essentially used and raped by other men. There were quite a few more small details like this that circulated my mind while I was reading and stopped me from loving the book as much as I could have.
Overall, I did really love the romance of the book and the overall concept behind it. It was just small details that really bothered me and stopped me from enjoying the book as much as I would have liked to. I still really enjoyed the book and would love to read more from this author in the future.
“Her beauty has captured me, imprisoned my capacity for language. All I can do is pay homage to the temple of her body.”
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Reading Progress
January 10, 2017
– Shelved
January 10, 2017
– Shelved as:
to-read
May 8, 2018
–
Started Reading
May 9, 2018
–
Finished Reading
May 12, 2018
– Shelved as:
2018
May 12, 2018
– Shelved as:
captivating-premise
Comments Showing 1-2 of 2 (2 new)
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KAS
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May 13, 2018 02:14AM
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Thank you, KAS!! I know right!! This would have been so much more beautiful and meaningful if it had a slower burn, but instead it felt rushed and chopped off at the end.